Library of Thoughts

Scripture says that in the last days, there will be some who lead you astray with "ear tickling" words. Words that sound good, and appeal to you at some base level. You might call these "Catch Phrase" teachers. Sort a few motivational concepts into an appealing order, and add some scripture to make a point… Some of it may be true, but it leads men astray. How do we train "True Men"? Well, teach them to trust the Bible, and filter everything through it, of course! So here is a starting point for understanding biblical manhood from scripture … You go back and look at the verses below in 2 or 3 versions and see if I have it right! This is what real men do! To understand Manhood, you must understand man’s purpose. Both in the OT, and the NT.  To wrestle with these is the beginning of understanding manhood. Because you will learn about the things to which it’s worthwhile to give your life. I am going to give it to you paraphrased and imperfectly…...

“But I’m not afraid!”, was the response of a friend ministering on a difficult team… The problem was, that his actions were telling a different story. Low level frustration and anger were evident, as well as pride. He wasn’t trusting God with some areas of his ministry. Fear can have different faces. Fear often doesn’t feel like the fear we experience when surprised by a friend, or the adrenaline response when watching an intense movie. “What actions reveal that I am operating out of fear?” This may be the most revealing question you ask yourself this week. Am I trying to control?  Am I acting one way with my team, but grumbling about them later with someone else? Am I struggling to follow the team leader? Am I having a hard time seeing God’s hand in my team relationships? Am I analyzing their unbiblical thinking, and wanting to show them where they are wrong? Am I critical of their experience, and they way they serve the Lord? These, and other questions ma...

DA Carson "We need never ask what kind or how much humility is normal, natural, or necessary. It comes naturally when we are close to Christ. It is a natural response to sitting at the foot of the cross. It is necessary if we are to shed self, and count Him as worth the loss of all else. ” Sitting at the foot of the cross… The purity and simplicity of devotion to Christ means we shove other things out of our view so that we have the scope and focus to look, listen, linger at the person and work of Christ.  The longer we linger, the greater our realizationt of the glory of Christ! When I sit at the foot of the cross, I am sitting where the cataclysmic events began. Where wrath was invited, and guilt gathered. Where corruption was brought to the surface and the holiness of Christ was unleashed like a purifying ocean as His blood was shed by whips, by thorns, by nails, by sword. And I recognize experientially that I am small, and remarkably that I am loved!

The short answer is, nothing. But if that's true why have some of the Heart of a Warrior and Wild at Heart Groups developed wacky theology and selfish practices?  The answer to that is found in spiritual development and spiritual formation. If I were to take a 5 year old and teach him how to build a fire and then expect him to be responsible, when he burns down the house it's not his fault. It's my fault. When you don't teach a spiritual five-year-old the main things first and you try to usher him into an understanding of a man's heart it's not his fault when he comes up with kookie theology. Why are you trying to teach someone how to be a mature man when you haven't taught him how to be an obedient boy? Now here's the developmental principle. We learn more mature truths in the context of the elementary truths. We build the school house before we build the furniture. Don't talk about the color of the walls until you've laid a good foundation....